Stapling-machine.



Patented Mar. 6, |900. M. V. ALLEN.

STAPLING MACHINE.

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

(Application led Apr. 24, 1899-) (No Model.)

mz "ohms PETERS w.. uovo-mmm wAsHwnToN. u. c

' N0.vs44,754. Patented Mar. s, |900. M. v. ALLEN.

STAPLING MACHINE.

(Application led Apr. 24, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

@C60/cf 7&@000

IIIV/ Patented Mar. 6, |900. M. V. ALLEN.

STAPLING MACHINE.

(Application led Apr. .24, 1899.1

`4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

(No MndeL).

f Ivs...

will! ams PETERS co. momu'ruo.. wuumoou D c Patented Mar. 6, |900. M. V. ALLEN. A STAPLING MACHINE.

(Application led Apr. 24, 1899.)

4 Sheet-Sheet 4,

Q (No Model.)

.Invenof )(dw x @Mmm/w "rn: mams rurais oo.. PHoYo-Liwo., wAsNmcToN NITED STATES EEICE.

STAPLING- MACH'lNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,754, dated March 6, 1906.

. Application and April 24, 1899. Y

To @ZZ 1,071,071?, it ntf/.y concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW VICTOR AL- LEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara andA State of New York, have inventednew and usefullmprovements in Stapling-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a stapling-machine whereby the parts of books, pamphlets, the., are stitched or fastened together by wire staples.

The objects of this invention are to simplify the means for supporting and operating the anvil which carries the staple-blank to the forming and driving mechanism; to improve the staple-support, so as to insure proper driving of the staple; to arrange the blankcutter so that the bevel formed thereby on the ends of the staple-legs causes the latter to be guided properly7 through the pamphlet to be bound; to'provide means for directing the wire properly across the anvil; to improve the construction of the wire-feed mechanism so that the rollers bear yieldingly against the wire and serve the double purpose of feeding and straightening the wire; to simplify the means for varying the length of the staple; to provide a convenient brake for checking the turning of the wire-spool and preventing the wire from becoming tangled; to improve the construction of the clenching mechanism, and toimprove the Inachinein other respects.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of four sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved stapling-machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a detached front view of the driving-wheel and connecting parts. of the blanks from which a wire staple is formed. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View, on an enlarged scale, of the wire-feed mechanism. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, in line 6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the staple support, former, and driver. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section in line 8 8, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section in line 9 9, Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section'in line 10 10, Fig. 6, showing the position of the parts when a staple-blank has been cut from the wire stock. Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the posit-ion of the parts Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one Serial No. 714,255. (No modell) when the staple-blank has been carried by the anvil under the former and driver. Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the staple has been driven into the book orl pamphlet to he bound. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section in line 13 13, Fig. 6, showing the staple-support and the devices for clamping the staple-blank on the anvil. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the staple-blank-clamping plate. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the anvil-lever and the blank-clamping device. Fig. 16 is a lrear elevation of the faceplate and the parts mounted thereon on the same scale as Figs. 6 to 13. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary horizontal section in line 17 17, Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a ver tical transverse section in line 18 18, Fig. 1, on a scale between that of Figs. 1 and 6. Figs. 19and 20 are vertical sections in lines 19 19 and 2O 20, Fig. 18, respectively. Fig. 21 is a vertical section, on the same scale as Fig. 16, of the staple-clenching device, showing the position of the parts when the legs of the staple are bent toward the blank. Fig. 22 is a similar view of the clenching device, showing the staple-legs clenched against the blank.

Fig. 23 is a face view of the rear sectionof the clencher-box. Fig. l24 is a detached view of one of the elencher-jaws. Fig. 25 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale,

showing the arrangement of` the Wire-feed rollers with reference. to the adjacent wire'- guides somewhat exaggerated.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several gures.

A represents the main frame of the machine, consisting principally of a base a, a pedestal a', rising from the front portion of the base, a supportingarm c2, rising from the rear portion of the base and overhanging the pedestal, and a hollow su pportin g-head B, arranged at the front end of the supportingarm, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

C represents the vertically-movable table, which supports the pamphlets or books to be stitched and which is adj ustably connected with the pedestal.

D represents the horizontal driving-shaft,

which is journaled in the overhanging arm and which makes one rotation for each sta` pling operation. This shaft is provided at its front end,within the supporting-head ,with

IOO

a d1ivingwl1eel (l and at its rear end with a driving-pulley (W, which is coupled with or uncoupled from the shaft by a clutch in the usual manner. The front side of the hollow supporting-head is closed by a face-plate D.

E, Figs. G, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 16, represents the vertically-reciprocating stapleformer, which is guided in ways on the rear side of the face-plate and which is provided at its lower end with two bending-jaws c e, whereby the staple-blank is bent into the form of the letter U. The former is raised and lowered by a cam-groove e', which is formed in the front side of the driving-wheel d, and which receives a pin or roller e2 on the rear side of the former.

F represents a vertically-reciprocating staple-driver whereby the staple is driven, with its legs, through the blank to be stitched. The driver is guided in a way formed partly in the rear side of the face-plate and partly in the front side of the former and is provided at its lower end with a hammer or head j", which is arranged between the former-jaws e and engages with the upper side of the cross-bar of the staple. The staple-drivcr is operated byalink f', which connects the rear side of the driver with a cra-nk or wrist pin f2 on the front side of the driving-wheel, as shown in Figs. 3, 10, and 1G. The crank f2 consists, preferably, of a pin riveted to the link f and a roller mounted on the pin and fitting loosely in a circular recess in the front side of the driving-wheel.

G represen ts the anvi1,which carries the staple-blank backwardly underneath the formerjaws and supports the blank while the former bends the legs thereof. This anvil is arranged on the lower arm g of an upright anvil-lever, which is pivoted by a transverse pin g to a case g2 on the front side of the face-plate, so that the lever turns in a vertical plane.

g3 represents acam which is secured tothe front side of the driver and whereby the anvil-lever is rocked for moving the anvil backwardly or forwardly. During the last portion of the upward movement of the driver the cam g3 engages with the upper arm g4 of the anvil-lever and moves the same forwardly, thereby moving the lower arm thereof and the anvil thereon backwardly below the driver, whereby the ends of the blank on the anvil are carried below the former-jaws. During the first portion of the downward movement of the driver the cam g3 engages with the lower arm of the anvil-lever and turns the latter, so that lthe anvil is moved forwardly from underneath the driver. By this means the anvil is moved backward and forward directly by the driver, thus simplifying the construction and rendering this operation reliable.

II, Figs. G, S, 10, 13, 14, and 15, represents a clamping-plate whereby the staple-blank is held upon the anvil while the latter carries the blank backwardl y underneath the formerjaws and until the legs have been bent thereon by the former-jaws. This plate is guided on the front side of the anvil-lever7 so as to slide vertically thereon, by screw 7L, secured to said arm and passing through slots 7L in the plate. The latter is provided near its lower end with two rearwardly-projecting jaws 7L?, which are arranged in recesses 71,3 in opposite sides of the lower arm-of the anvillever and which overhang the top of the anvil, as shown in Figs. 8, 10, 13, 14, and 15. The clamping-plate is yieldingly pressed downwai-dl y, so that its jaws press the blank against the top of the anvil, by a spring 7L", arranged in a recess in the front side of the anvil-lever and bearing with its ends against shoulders formed on the anvil-lever and the clampingplate. The clam pin g-plate is raised for releasing the staple by a clamp-lever which turns on the pivot g of the anvil-lever. The clamp-lcver engages with its front arm t5linde1'neatl1a shoulder or projection h6 on the clampingplate and engages with its rear arm 7L7 against a cam hs on the front side of the former, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 13, whereby the upward-and-downward movement of the former operates the clamping-plate so as to grasp or release the blank on the anvil. By this construction of the clamping device the blankis grasped at two places on opposite sides of the anvil and is securely held against displacement on the anvil.

hg isa wire-guide which is arranged on the left side of the anvil-ease g2 in line with the top of the anvil when the latter is in its foremost position and which directs the wire upon the anvil. The rear portion of the anvil-case, on opposite sides of the anvil and the wireguide, is provided with recesses, as shown in Figs. 4, 6, S, and 11, through which the ends of the staple-blank move while the latter is earried rearwardly from the anvil-case to the former and driver.

I, Figs. i, 6,7,s,1o,11,12,13,aud 16, represents a staple-support whereby the staple is supported while being driven into the book or pamphlet and which moves forward and backward across the path of the driver. The staple-support is provided on its front end with an inclined upper side t', which rises from the front end of the support, and a lower inclined side i', which descends from the front end of the support.

7o 7c' represent front and rear links or hangers which swing in a vertical plane and whereby the staple-support is carried and guided. The rear link 7c is pivoted at its upper end to a bracket 7a2, projecting rearwardly from the face-plate, and its lower bifurcated end is pivoted to the rear end of the staplesup port. The bifurcated upper end of the front link k is pivoted to the bracket 7a2, and its lower bifureated end is provided with a transverse pin 7a3, which passes through an upright slot 7a4 in the front portion of the staple-support.

705 is a spring which connects the staple- IOO support between its links with the upper pivot of the front link and whereby the support is yieldingly moved forward and upward. The forward movement of the support is limited by a roller k6, arranged on the front link and engaging with a cam k7 on the rear side of the sliding former, as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 16. The upward movement of the support is limited by the lower end of the slot in the support engaging with the lower pin 0f the front link.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 13, the anvil is in its foremost position and grasps a stapleblank which has been severed from the stock of Wire, the former and driver are near the end of their upward movement, and the staple-support is moved forwardly underneath the driver and held against moving forward its fullest extent by the roller on the front link 7c engaging with the salient portion of the cam k7 on the former. Upon turning the driving-shaft in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 1, 3, and 10, the former and driver are first raised to their highest position and the anvil-lever is turned by the driver' cam gs engaging with the upper arm thereof, so that the lower arm thereof carries the anvil backwardly until the anvil is underneath the driver and the ends of the blank are underneath the former-jaws, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11. The former now descends and its jaws e engage with the projecting ends of the blank and bend the same downwardly against opposite sides of the anvil and the staple-support, so as to form the legs of the staple. After the former during its downward movement has bent the legs of the staple the salient part of the former-cam h3 engages with the rear arm 717 of the clamp-lever and turns the latter, so as to raise the jaws of the clampingplate from the staple-blank and release the latter from the anvil. The driver, which follows close behind the former, now engages its cam g3 with the lower arm of the anvil-lever and moves the anvil forwardly out of the path of the driver, and the head of the latter engages with the cross-bar of the staple and depresses the same. As the anvil clears the cross-bar of the staple and the head of the driver the former duringits continued downward movement presents the receding part of its cam k7 to the roller k6 of the front link lc, and the staple-support is then drawn forward by the spring 7x15 until the rollerstrikes the bottom of the receding part of the cam k7, whereby the inclined upper side 'L' of the staple-support is pressed against the under side of the staple crossbar, as represented in dotted lines, Fig. 11, and supports the cross-bar while the legs of the staple are being driven through the pamphlet. end of the staple-support is pressed downward by the driver until it bears against the top of the pam phlet, and during the continued downward movement of the driver the legs of the staple are driven through the pamphlet, and the staplesupport is forced rear- The front wardlyby the downward pressure of the driver against the inclined upper side i of the support until the cross-bar of the staple slips from the front end of the staple-support and is driven against the pamphlet, as shown in Fig. l2. The driver and former now move upwardly, and the staple-support is moved upwardly and forwardly into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 10 preparatory to receiving the next staple-blank from the anvil. This means of suspending and guiding the staple-support causes the latter to move backwardly in a substantially-horizontal. direction while the staple is being driven and maintains the inclined upper side t' of the support at substantially the same angle during the entire timevthat the cross-bar of the staple is bearing against the same and the legs are being driven through the pamphlet, thereby providing a uniform support for the staple and preventing the same from escaping from the driver and being buckled during the last portion of the driving operation, which is liable to happen if the inclination of the staple-support is too steep during the last portion of the driving operation.

The cutter mechanism whereby the stapleblanks are severed from the wire stock is constructed as follows:

L represents a horizontallymovable carrier arranged adjacent to the left side of the anvil-case and guided on the front side of the face-plate.

Z is the lower tubular cutter, which is mounted in a recess in the lower portion of vthe carrier L in line with the guide hg and through which the wire is fed to the anvil.

Z is the upper cutter, which moves past the outer end of the tubular cutter and severs the wire. The upper cutter is mounted on the lower end of a vertically-movable slide Z2, which is guided in the upper part of the carrier L and which is yieldingly held in an elevated or inoperative position by a spring Z3, interposed between the lower end of the slide and the carrier. The upper cutter is depressed for cutting the wire by an elbowlever M, which is pivoted on the rear side of the face-plate, as shown in Figs. 6 and 16. The lower horizontal arm m of this lever has a roller m', which projects through a slot m2 in the face-plate and engages with the upper end of the cutter-slide. The upper vertical arm mis provided with a pin or roller which projects into the path of the link f', which operates the staple-driver. While the upper cutter is in an elevated position and the anvil is in its foremost position the wire stock is fed through the lower cutter and across the anvil. ADuring this timethe wireclamping plate is held in an elevated position by the clamp lever, the rear arm of which is engaged by the salient part of the former-cam 718 while the former is down. After the wire has been fed across the anvil the former during the last portion of its upward movement presents the receding part 'IOO IIO

of its cam 7U* to the rear arm of the clamplevcr, thereby permitting the latter to turn in the direction for lowering the clampingplate so that its jaws press the wire against the anvil. The next instant the lower end of the driver-link f during its upward movement momentarily engages and detiects the upper arm of the cutter-lever M, whereby the upper cutter is quickly lowered and raised and the blank held on the anvil is severed from the wire stock, leaving the blank free to be carried by the anvil to the former and driver. lVhen the wire is cut at right angles to the plane of the wire, the taper on the rearend of the blank is beveled considerably more on one side than on the other, which causes the rear leg of the staple formed therefrom to be deflected out of its transverse course when driven through a pamphletblank, thereby interfering with the proper clenching of the staple. In order to make the bevels of the taperon the rear end of the staple-blank more uniform in all positions of the cutter-carrier, the lower and upper cutters and the slide carrying the same are arranged at an oblique angle to the plane of the wire, as shown in Fig. 6. By this a1'- rangement of the cutters the bevels n n' produced on the rear end of the blank by the upper and lower cutters, respectively,are substantially uniform, as shown in Fig. 4, and the leg formed by this end of the blank is guided properly through the pamphlet. rlhe front end In2 of the staple-blank is out substantially straight acipss, as shown in Fig. 4, when the cutters are arranged at an oblique angleto the plane of the wire, whereby this end of the wire also passes straight through the pamphlet.

The bevels on the rear end of the blank are not equal, but nearly so, the lower bevel being less than the upper bevel. The front of the blank is not cut perfectly square, but consists of two bevels, the upper one of which is almost square and extends almost across the blank,while the lower bevel is very slight, so that the cut on the front end of the blank is practically square across. The angle of these bevels is exaggerated in Fig. 4 for the sake of clearness. The difference in the form of the bevels at opposite ends of the blank is due to the crowding action of the beveled sides of the cutters, in addition to the oblique shearing action. As the movable upper cutter descends and presses the blank down upon the lower portion of the lixed lower cutter the metal is crowded away from opposite'sides of the cutters by the bevels thereof, and this movement of the metal, together with the slight condensing of the metal during the cutting operation, produces the peculiar formation of the bevels on the ends of the blank.

It has been found in practice that the wire on account of its spring or curvature has a tendency to assume a diagonal position when fed over the anvil, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. S, whereby the jaws of the clampingplate fail to grasp the saine properly and present the same improperly to the former-jaws c. This causes the latter to miss the front end of the staple-blank and fail to bend a letr thereon, resulting in imperfect stapling of the pamphlet. In order to direct the front end of the wire so that it lies in its proper position straight across the anvil, as shown in full lines in Fig. 8, a tubular guide o is provided, through which the wire stock passes before it reaches the cutters. This guide is arranged in a cylindrical opening formed in the cutter-carrier in front of the lower cutter, so as to be capable of turning therein, and is provided with va longitudinal guide opening or passage 0, which is curved lateral ly. After the wire passes through the curved guide-opening o it leaves the guide-opening at an angle to the axis of the guide-sleeve 0. By turning the guide-sleeve in the cutter-carrier the direction in which the wire moves upon leaving the guide can be varied to offset the spring or curvature in the wire and cause the wire to be fed straight across the anvil.

The cuttercarrier and the guidetube mounted thereon are adjustable in astraight horizontal line toward and from the anvil for varying the length of the staple in accordance with the thickness of the pamphlet to be stapled. For this purpose the cutter-carrier is provided with a feather or projection p on its real-side, which moves in a horizontal way p' on the front side of the face-plate, and the carrier is connected to a transverselysliding plate p2 on the rear side of the faceplate by screws 293, passing through a slot p4 in the face-plate, as shown in Figs. G, S, and 1G.

I represents a rotary adjusting-disk arranged in rear of the face-plate and provided with a cam-slot p5, which receives a pin or roller p on the slide-plate p2. Upon turning the adj usting-disk its cam-slot shifts the cutter-carrier toward or from the anvil for varying the length of the staple-blank. The adjusting-disk is secured to the rear end of an adjusting-shaft p7, which is journaled in the face-plate and is provided in front of the latter with a hand-lever p8, whereby the adjusting-disk may be turned on the front side of the machine.

The wire from which the staples arc made is unwound from a spool Q, arranged above the supporting-head B, and passes thence toward the left over a curved guide q, thence through an upper vertical guide-section q', thence downwardly between a pair of feedrollers q2 Q3, thence downwardly through a lower vertical guide-section g4, which is in line with the upper vertical section q', thence downwardly and toward the right through a curved guide g5, and thence through the guidetube o and past the cutters to the anvil. The mechanism whereby the wire-feed rollers are operated is constructed as follows: j

R, Figs. 2, 5, 6, and 8, represents an intermittently-rotatin g shaft whereby the feed- IOO IIO

IZO

rollers are driven and which is journalcd in a bearing fr on the face-plate. The inner feed-roller q2 is secured to the front end of this shaft, and the two rollers are rotated in unison by internieshinggear-Wheels r r2, secured, respectively, to the inner and outer feed-rollers, as shown in Figs. 2 and G.

r3 is a rock-shaft journaled in a bearin g r4 on the face-plate and provided at its front end with an eccentric arbor or crank 015, on which the outer feed-roller (13 and gear-wheel r2 are journaled. By turning the rock-shaft r3 in one direction or the other the outer feedroller is moved bodily toward or from the inner feed-roller for starting or stopping the feed of wire. The eccentric arbor is arranged below the axis of its supporting-shaft, andthe latter is provided withv a rock-arm' r6, which projects upwardly through a transverse slot rf in the bearing r4.

TS represents a shifting-lever whereby the outer roller is moved toward or from the inner roller, and which is pivoted by a screw @"9 to the rear side of the face-plate so as to swing in a vertical plane.

r11) is a shifting-rod which is .pivoted at its outer end to the rock-arm r and passes with its inner end through a swivelinglug r11, which is pivoted on the shifting-lever.

T12 is a spring which` bears with its ends against the outer side of the lug r11 and a shoulder r13 on the shifting-rod.

014 is a pin or shoulder arranged on the shifting-rod on the inner side of the lug r11. Upon swinging the shifting-lever upwardly and inwardly its lug r11 engages with the inner shoulder T14 of the rod and draws the latter inwardly, therebyv turning the rock-shaft r3 in the direction for moving the outer feedroller away from the inner feedroller and stopping the feeding action of the rollers.` Upon swinging the shifting-lever outwardly and downwardly the lug r11 of the same engages with the inner end of the spring 9112 and through the latter shifts the rod r11 outwardly, thereby turning the rock-shaft r3 in the direction for moving the outer feed-roller toward the inner roller. The downward movement of the shifting-lever is continued a short distance after the feed-rollers are engaged vwith the wire between the same,whereby the spring T12 is compressed slightly and a yielding or elastic pressure is applied by the outer roller against the wire. This pressure is so regulated that the rollers obtain a sufficiently-firm grip upon the wire to feed the same positively, but without flattening the wire.-

r15 is a stop which is arranged on the rear side of the face-plate and is engaged by the lower arm of the shifting-lever r, so as to arrest the outward movement of the latter. This stop arrests the lever when the lug r11 of the latter has been carried slightly beyond the dead-center line between the pivot rf of of the shifting-lever and the pivoted connection between the shifting-rod r11) and rockarm r, whereby the tension of the spring 4112 keeps the shifting-lever in its outermost position.

The axes of the shafts R and r3 are arranged on a line which is horizontal or at right angles to the course of the wire passing through the upper and lower vertical sections q' q1 of the wire-guide. When the outer feed-roller is in its operative position, its axis is arranged below that of the inner feedroller, so that the axis of both rollers are in line obliquely with reference to the course of the wire, as represented in Figs. 2 and 6. The innermost or operative portion of the periphery of the outer wire-feed roller is arranged slightly inside of or crosses a vertical line extending from the upper wire-guide q' to the lower wire-guide g4, the arrangement of this roller being shown exaggerated in Fig. 25 for the sake of clearness. This arrangement of the rollers and guides produces an inward bend in the wire between the upper vertical guide q' and the lower vertical guide g4. This bend in the wire is reverse to the bend which is in the -wire when the latter leaves the spool and passes around the curved guide q to the feed-rollers, and therefore tends to straighten lthe wire. The bend which is produced in the wire bythe feed-rollers and guides q Q4 is not permanent, but has a straightening effect upon the wire and reduces the set of the bend which is in the wire when it leaves the spool. By this arrangement of the feed-rollers with reference to the wire-guides these rollers serve the double purpose of feeding the Wire and also straightening the same.

S, Figs. S, 9, and 16, represents a ratchetwheel secured to the rear end of the feedroller shaft R, and s is a ratchet-arm mounted loosely on said shaft between its bearing and the ratchet-wheel.

s is a pawl pivoted on the upper end of the ratchet-arm and held yieldingly in engagement with the teeth on the upper side of the ratchet-wheel by a spring s2,

s3 S4 represent the upper and lower menibers or bars of a toggle whereby the ratchetarm is oscillated and which are pivotally connected by a pin S5. The upper toggle-bar IOO IIO

s3 is pivoted with its upper end to the upper the adjusting-disk shown in Fig. 16 the piv-v otal support at the lower end of the lower toggle-bar is arranged outside of the axis of the adjusting-disk, in which position the toggle-bars are folded and unfolded a considerable extent during each rotation of the driving-wheel, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in said figure, and the wire-feeding rollers are turned by the ratchet mechanism a proportionate distance to supply the wire for a long staple. Upon turning the adjustingdisk so that the pivotal support at the lower end of the lower toggle-bar is arranged inside of the axis of the adjusting-disk the extent which the toggle-bars fold and unfold is reduced, as indicated by skeleton lines in Fig. 1G, whereby the extent which the wire is fed bythe rollers is reduced for producing a short staple. The cam-slot in the adjusting-disk and the position of the pivot connecting the same with the lower toggle-bar are so arranged that upon turning thedisk the positions of the wire-cutter and feed mechanism are always shifted together relatively for producing the desired length of staple.

T, Figs. 8, 1U, and 17, represents a liftingarm,whereby the pawl is lifted out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel during the backward stroke of the pawl, so as to avoid the wear and noise which would otherwise be produced. This arm is mounted loosely on the rear end of the roller-shaft R, between the rear side of the ratchet-wheel and a disk l, secured to the rear end of the shaft. The lifting-arm is frictionally connected with the ratchet-wheel by a frictionblock i', arranged in a socket t2 on said arm and pressed constantly against the rear side of the ratchet-wheel by a spring t3, arranged in said socket and bearing against the friction-block. The upper end of the lifting-arm is provided on its outer side with an incline or cam-face t4 and at the upper end of the incline with an abrupt face t5, both of which are arranged in the path of a lug or pin i on the rear side of the pawl. During the backward movement of the pawl its lug t engages with the incline t4 of the lifting-arm and is lifted above the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, as represented in Fig. 16, and then the pawl-lug 'iengages with the abrupt face ti of the lifting-arm, whereby the latter is compelled to move backwardly with the pawl.l During the forward stroke of the pawl its lug f rides down the incline of the lifting-arm, which permits the pawl to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel and move the same forward with the pawl. During the first portion of the forward movement of the pawl while riding down the incline of the lifting-arm the ratchet-wheel and lifting-arm stand still, but after the pawl engages with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel the latter,toget`her with the lifting-arm, moves with the pawl to the end of its forward stroke. If the friction between the ratchet-wheel and the lifting-arm should give out, the latter is positively carried forward with the pawl and its arm by a shoulder or projection t7 on the pawl or its supportingarm engaging with the outer end of a slot 8 in the lifting-arm. The pivot-screw of the pawl preferably serves as the projection t7 for moving the lifting-arm forwardly.

The wire-spool Q is mounted on a horizontal arbor or spindle u, which is secured to a bracket u', arranged above the Supportinghead.

1/2 represents a flexible brake-band which bears against the coil of wire on the spool, and whereby the rotation `of the spool is checked and the wire is prevented from becoming snarled or tangled on the spool. This brakeband is supported byacurved brake-arm w3, which is pivoted at its lower end to the bracket below the spool-arbor. The brake-band is secured with its ends to the ends of the brakearm and is suliiciently slack to permit the band to conform to the curvature of the wire on the spool when bearing against the same, as shown in Fig. b'. The brake-band is held against the spool of wire by a spring ai, connected at one end to the bracket and at its other end to alpin or projection n.5, arranged eccentrically on the brake-arm. lVhen the brake-arm is in its operative position, the point of connection between the spring and the brake-arm is on one side of the dead-center, and when the brake-arm is swung back fully into its inoperative position the point of connection between the same and its spring is shifted to the opposite side of the deadcenter, whereby the spring serves to hold the brake either in its operative or inoperative position.

The table C, upon which the pamphlets to be stapled are placed, is secured to a crosshead V, which is mounted on the upper end of a hollow depending stem The latter is capable of vertical adjustment in a guidesleeve c', arranged on the pedestal al of the mainframe. The table is raised and lowered toward and from the supporting-head for adjusting the same to different thicknesses of pamphlets by a toggle mechanism which is constructed as follows:

r2 r3, Figs. 1,2, 1S, 19, and 20, represent the upper and lower members or bars of one toggle, and r4 the upper and lower members or bars of another toggle. The opposing ends of the toggle-bars r2 lare pivoted to a screwnut r, and the opposing ends of the togglebars t'fl ri are pivoted to a screw-nut c7. rlhe upper members of both toggles are pivoted by a screw rs to the guide-sleeve, and the lower members of both toggles are pivoted by a screw r" to the supporting-stem below the guide-sleeve.

lwis an adj Listing-screw provided with right and left hand screw-threads, which work in the correspondingly-threaded screw-nuts t IT. Upon turning the adjusting-screw by means of a handle 1' on the front end thereof the inner ends of the two sets of toggle-bars are removed toward or from each other and the supporting-stem, together with the table connected therewith, is raised or lowered. This means of adjusting the table is easy and IOO IIO

convenient and holds the table in its adj usted position without requiring any clamping device for that purpose.

The mechanism whereby the legs of the staple are clenched on the under side of the pamphlet is constructed as follows:

W W', Figs. 1, 2,18, 19, 21, 22, 23,and 24, represent the front and rear sections of the clencher-box, which is secured to the crosshead V and projects upwardly through an openingr in the table below the staple former,

driver, and support.

w w' represent two clencher-jaws whereby the legs of the staple are clenched and each of which is provided with a vertical inner face 102, a horizontal upper face w3, extending outwardly from the upper end of the inner face, a horizontal lower face 104, extending outwardly from the lower end of the inner face, apivot m5, arranged at the corner of the inner and lower faces, a curved outer face tu, arranged concentrically with the pivot, a shoulder '107, arranged at the upper end of the curved face, an outer straight face w8, arranged at the lower end of the curved face parallel with the inner face, and a shoulder M9, arranged at the lower end of the straight outer face ius. The clencher-jaws are arranged in the clencher-boX on opposite sides of the top opening thereof and have their vertical inner sides 102 facing each other. The pivots of the jaws are arranged in vertical slots w10, formed in the rear section of the clencher-boX, and their onlcr sides engage with guides w11. 'lhe latter are preferably formed by screws which connect the two sections of the clencher-box.

X represents a clencher-plate whereby the clencher-jaws are operated and which slides vertically in the lower portion of the clencherboX. This plate is provided on its upper side with a horizontal face J0, which is arranged opposite the lower sides of the clencher-jaws, and two hooks .r '.1;, which are arranged at opposite ends of the horizontal face r and engage with the lower outer shoulders 109 of the clencher-jaws. In the normal inoperative position of the clencher mechanism the plate X is in its depressed position, and the jaws are arranged with their pivots in the lower ends of the slots w and turned outwardly with their upward shoulders wl engaging with the guides w11, as shown in Fig. 1S. Vhile the parts are in this position the legs of the staple pass downwardly through the pamphlet-blank and through the opening in the clencher-box, so that they stand between the clencher-jaws, as represented in Fig. 18. The clencher-plate now ascends, and during the first portion of this movement the horizontal upper face of the clencher-plate engages with the lower outer ends ofthe jaws and turns the same inwardly with their upper ends until the horizontal face of the clencher-plate bears squarely against the lower faces of the clencher-jaws, as represented in Fig. 21. During this movement of the jaws the latter move with their outer curved faces along the guides w, thereby preventing the jaws from being lifted and compelling the jaws to bend the legs of the staple inwardly toward each other, so that thelegs lie on the top of the upper faces w3 of the jaws, as -represented in Fig. 21. During the last portion of the upward movement of the clencher-plate the clencher-jaws are raised bodily and pressed with their upper faces w3 against the bent legs of the staple,whereby the same are tightly pressed or clenched against the under side of the pamphlet. During the last portion of the upward movement of the jaws the pivots of the latter move upwardly in the slots w10 of the clencher-boX and their straight outer sides w8 move along the guides tu, as represented in Fig. 22. During the downward movement of the clencher plate and jaws the latter first move downwardly bodily until their pivots reach the lower ends of the slots w10 and their straight outer sides clear the guides w11, after which the jaws are swung outwardly on their pivots by the pull of the hooks of the clencher-plate and separated to receive the legs of the next staple. By this construction of clenching mechanism the jawsengage with the legs at a point above the ends of the legs and the bendingis eected after the staple has been driven through the pamphlet, whereby the ends of the staplelegs are prevented from digging into the clenching-jaws and wearing the same unduly. The clencher-plate is operated by a verticallymovable spindle Y, which is arranged in the hollow stem and which carries the clencherplate at its upper end. The spindle is yieldinglyheld in its depressed position by a spring y. Motion is transmitted from the drivingshaft to the spindle Y for operating the clenching mechanism in any suitable and wellknown manner, the means shown in the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 18, 10, and 20, consisting of a front elbow-lever y', pivoted on the lower end of the table-stem and bearing with its upper arm against the lower end of the spindle Y, a rear elbow-lever z, pivoted within the hollow su pportingarm and having its lower arm connected by a link e' with the lower arm of the front elbow-lever, a vertically-movable slide z2, guided in the upper portion of the supporting-arm and connected by a link z3 with the upper arm of the rear elbow-lever, and a cam Z4, arranged on the driving-shaft and engaging with the roller on the slide z2.

I claim as my invention- 1. The Vcombination with the staple former and driver, of a rock-lever pivoted between its upper and lower arms, an anvil arranged on the lower arm of the roclflever and adapted to support a staple-blank, and a cam arranged on the staple-driver and adapted to engage with the upper arm of the rock-lever during the upward movement of the driver and with the lower arm of the rock-lever dur- IOO IZO

ing the downward movement of the driver, whereby the rock-lever is turned so as to move the anvil toward and from the driver, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the staple former and driver, of an anvil adapted to carry the staple-blau k tothe former and driver,a clamping-plate provided with two jawsarranged on opposite sides of the anvil, and a lever which is operated by a cam on the former and whereby the jaws of the clamping-plate are moved from the anvil, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the staple former and driver, of a rock-lever carrying an anvil, a cam which isarranged on the driver and whereby the rock-lever is turned for moving the anvil toward and from the former and driver, a clamjnng-plate guided on the rocklever and provided with jaws above the anvil, and a clamp-lever pivoted concentrically with the anvil-lever and having one of its arms engaging with a cam on the former and its other arm engaging with said clampingplate, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the staple former and driver, of a staple-support, a rear link pivotally connected with the rear end of the staple-support, and a front link loosely connected with the front end of the staple-support, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the staple former and driver, of a staple-support, a rear link pivotally connected with the rear end of the staple-support, a front link loosely connected with the frontend of the staple-support, and a spring whereby the staple-support is yieldingly held in its forward operative position, substantially as set forth.

0. The combination with the staple former and driver, of a staple-support, a rear link pivotally connected with the rear end of the staple-support, a front link provided with a pin passing' through a slot in the staple-support, and a spring whereby the links are moved into their foremost position and the staple-support is held in its operative position, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the staple former and driver, and the anvil whereby the stapleblank is presented to the former and driver, of a staple-support adapted to support the staple while being driven, links carrying said support, a spring whereby said support is moved forwardly, and a cam which is arranged on the former and which holds the staple-support back until the anvil is withdrawn from the staple and then permits said support to move forward into engagement with the staple, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the staple former and driver, andthe anvil whereby the stapleblank is presented to the former and driver, of a staple-support adapted to support the staple while being` driven, a rear link pivotally connected with said support, a front link loosely connected with said support, a spring whereby said support is moved forwardly and upwardly, a roller arranged on the front link, and a cam which is arranged on said former and engages with said roller and whereby said support is held back until the anvil is withdrawn from the staple and then permits said support to movel forward into engagement with the staple,substantiallyas setforth.

S). The combination with the staple forming anddriving mechanism and the anvil whereby the staple-blank is presented to said mechanism, of a cutter whereby the staple-blank is severed from the wire-stock and which has a shearing movement at an oblique angle to the path of the wire-stock, and a carrier which supports said cutter an d which is capable of rectilinearadjustment toward and from said anvil, substantially as set forth.

l0. The combination with the staple-driver and the driving-wheel having a crank which is connected by a link with said driver, of a cutter mounted on a slide, and a rock-lever having one of its arms engaging with said slide and its other arm adapted to be engaged by said link, substantially as set forth.

ll. The combination with the staple forming and driving mechanism and the anvil whereby the staple-blank is presented to said mechanism, of a cutter whereby the stapleblank is severed from the wire-stock and which has a shearing movement at an oblique angle to the path of the wire-stock, a carrier which supports said cutter and which is capable of rectilinear adjustment toward and from said anvil, and a cam whereby said carrier is shifted, substantially as set forth.

l2. The combination with the staple forming and driving mechanism and the anvil whereby the staple-blank is presented to said mechanism, ot' a cutter whereby said blank is cut, and a rotatable guide having a curved passage whereby the wire is directed to said cutter and anvil, substantially as sctvforth.

13. The combination with the staple forming and driving mechanism and the anvil whereby the staple-blank is presented to said mechanism, of a carrier movable toward and from the anvil, a wire-cutter mounted on the carrier, and a tubular guide which is capable of rotary adjustment on the carrier in front of the cutter and which is provided with a curved-wire passage, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with the upper and lower straight-wire guides which are arranged in line, of two wire-feed rollcrs'arranged on opposite sides of the course of the wire bctween said guides and having their axes arranged on aline which is oblique tothe course of the wire as it passes through said guides, one of said rollers having its operative portion projecting across a line extending from one guide to the other, whereby the wire is deflected or bcut by the rollers as it passes lOO IIO

from one guide to the other and a straightening effect is produced 'upon the same while being fed, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with two wire-feed rollers, of a rotary shaft supporting one of said rollers, a rock-shaft provided on one side of its center with a crank which supports the other roller, a rock-arm arranged on the opposite side of the rock-shaft, a shifting-lever, and a spring connection between said rock arm and lever whereby upon moving the lever in one direction the rock-shaft is turned so that the roller on the crank thereof is held yieldingly in contact with the other roller while upon moving the lever in the opposite direction the rock-shaft is turned so as to move the feed-roller on its crank away from the opposing roller, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with two wire -feed rollers, of a rotary shaft supporting one of said rollers, a rock-shaft provided on one side of its axis with a crank supporting the other roller, a rockarm arranged on the rock-shaft on the opposite side of its axis, a shifting-lever provided with a swiveling lug, a rod connected at one end withv said arm and passing loosely with its opposite end through said swiveling lug, a spring bearing-with its ends against one side of said lug and a shoulder on said rod, and a shoulder arranged on said rod on the opposite side of said lug, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with the wire-feed rollers and the driving-wheel, of a shaft supporting one of said rollers and provided with a ratchet wheel, a ratchet arm journaled loosely on said shaftand provided with a pawl engaging with the ratchet-wheel, a pair of toggle-bars one of which is connected with said ratchet-arm, and a link connecting the other toggle-barwith a crank on the driving-wheel, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination with the wire-feed rollers and the driving-wheel, of ashaft supporting one of said rollers and provided with a ratchet wheel, a ratchet arm journaled loosely on said shaft and provided with a pawl engaging with the ratchet-wheel, an upper toggle-bar connected with the ratchetarm, a lower toggle-bar connected by a link with a crank on the driving-wheel, and a rotary adjusting-disk to which the lower togglebar is pivoted eccentrically, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with the staple forming and driving mechanism and the anvil whereby the staple-blank is presented to said mechanism, of a cutter-carrier adjustable toward and from the anvil, a pair of wire-feed rollers one of which is connected with a ratchet-wheel, a ratchet-arm provided with a pawl engaging with the ratchet-wheel, a toggle having its upper bar connected with the ratchet-arm, and a rotary adj usting-disk to which the lower bar of the toggle is pivoted cccentrically and which is provided with a cam whereby the cutter-carrier is adjusted, substantially as set forth.

20. rlhe combination with the feed-rollers, the shaft supporting one of said rollers and the ratchet-wheel secured to said shaft, of 'an' oscillating ratchet-arm provided with a pawl engaging with the teeth of said wheel, a lifti ing-arm mounted loosely on said shaft and connected loosely with said ratchet-arm so as to oscillate with the ratchetarm during a part of the movement of the latter but' permits the ratchet-arm to have a slight movement independent of the lifting-arm, a cam ar-- ranged on the lifting-arm and adapted to b'e engaged by the pawl for lifting the latter from'l` the ratchet-teeth during the iirst part of the backward movement of the ratchet-arm independent of the lifting-arm, and a frictional coupling connecting the ratchet-Wheel and lifting-arm, substantially as set forth. j v

21. The combination with the feed-rollers; the shaft supporting one of said rollers and the ratchet-wheel secured to said shaft, of an oscillating ratchetarm provided with a pawl engaging with the teeth of said wheel, a lift# ing-arm mounted loosely on said shaft and oscillating with the ratchet-arm during a part of the time, a cam arranged on the lifting arm and adapted to be engaged by the pawl for lifting the latter out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel during the first part of the backward movement of the ratchet-arm independent of the lifting-arm, a projection arranged on the pawl-arm and engaging with a slot in the lifting-arm, a pressure-block arranged in a socket in the lifting-arm, and a spring whereby said block is pressed against the ratchet-wheel, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination with a bracket provided with a spindle adapted to support a spool of wire, of a curved brake-arm pivoted to said bracket and adapted to move between the flanges of the spool, a brake-band adapted to bear against the wire on the core of the spool and secured with its ends to the outer and inner ends of the brake-arm, an eccentric projection or crank arranged on the brake-arm, and a spring connecting said projection or crank with the bracket, whereby the brake-arm and band are yieldingly moved toward or away from the wire-spool as the projection or crank is swung from one side of the dead-center to the other, substantially as set forth. l

23. The combination with the staple forming and driving mechanism, of a clencherbox arranged below said mechanism and provided with an opening in its top, two clencherjaws arranged in said box and each provided with an inner vertical face, upper'and lower horizontal faces, an outer curved face, a shoulder at the upper end of the curved face, a straight vertical face at the lower end of the curved face, a shoulder at the lower end 'of the straight outer face, and a pivot'arranged at the inner lower corner of each jaw IOO IIO

and engaging with a vertical slot in the box, fitness my hand this 17th day of April, and a clenol1er-pla-te provided with a horizon- 1809. tal upper face whleh engages with the lower MATTHEW VICTOR ALLEN faces of the jaws and with hooks at opposite 4 5 ends of the horizontal face which engage with Witnesses:

the lower outer shoulders of the jaws, sub- V. A. PHILPOTT, Jr., stantially as set forth. FREDK. LEUPPIE. 

